Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s controversial nominee to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has (sort of) answered questions posed to him by members of the Senate Finance Committee regarding his views and approach to cannabis.
The questioning was part of the formal process to consider the nomination of RFK to be HHS Secretary that occurred last week.
Among the questions was one with multiple parts. He was asked whether he agreed with the FDA’s conclusion that cannabis has some medical and/or therapeutic use, whether he believed the CSA’s Schedule III classification for cannabis is most appropriate and if he committed to protecting the science-based role of FDA in any future rescheduling or descheduling process initiated by the Trump administration.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. simply replied:
“If confirmed, I look forward to reviewing the reasoning behind the FDA’s conclusion and following the law.”
In another multi-part question, he was asked if the FDA can improve regulation of hemp and hemp-derived products, if it has the necessary authority under current law to regulate the same, and if he will work with Congress to ensure such products would remain available while ensuring safety.
He replied similarly, adding he looked forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure that every safe and effective treatment is made available for patients, consistent with federal law.
The full questions and responses to the above can be found in this document.
He was also asked if he supported the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act and the Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA).
RFK said he had not carried out a “deep study” of the proposed legislation.
Asked again on his views about marijuana’s potential rescheduling under the CSA and the HHS’s assessment, RFK referred to his previous response and added:
“CSA scheduling is a prerogative of the DEA, and I defer to that agency in the exercise of its authorities”.
Asked if he would commit to working with the DOJ and DEA to resume currently paused proceedings on the scheduling of marijuana, RFK deferred to the DOJ and DEA on the allocation of their resources.
When questioned on whether he would support policies resulting in the release of individuals who are incarcerated for cannabis offenses, he deferred to the Department of Justice and state and local authorities .
More on these and other questions and responses are in this document.
Previously, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has advocated for the federal legalization of marijuana and a related federal tax designated specifically for drug treatment and rehabilitation. RFK is the nephew of America’s 35th President, John F. Kennedy, and son of Attorney General Robert F. Kenned; both of whom were assassinated.
